The 2026/27 edition of the Carabao Cup has kicked off, and every first‑round match will be streamed live on Sky Sports, giving fans a full slate of football action to enjoy. Among the early fixtures, West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to feature, and their goals will be highlighted during Saturday’s packed Soccer Saturday programme. Sky Sports has secured the rights to broadcast every tie from the opening round, which includes clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most reliable video player experience.
The first‑round campaign began on Thursday when Walsall produced a surprise 1‑0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The excitement continues on Friday evening with three more matches. Wolverhampton Wanderers will launch their cup run at home against Port Vale, Middlesbrough will host Welsh side Wrexham, and Stevenage will travel to Wycombe Wanderers for their opening clash.
Saturday hosts the bulk of the first‑round schedule. The day starts at 1:00 p.m. with Cambridge United taking on Barnet, followed by Queens Park Rangers welcoming Millwall at 2:00 p.m.
A series of 3:00 p.m. kick‑offs follows, featuring high‑profile encounters such as Burnley versus Notts County, West Ham United against Portsmouth, and Leicester City meeting Northampton Town. In other fixtures, Swansea City face Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday host Bolton Wanderers, and Norwich City welcome Milton Kenny Dons, while Southampton travel to face Colchester United. Fans can stream the Carabao Cup without a long‑term contract by downloading the Sky Sports app.
The Saturday lineup concludes with three evening fixtures at 5:30 p.m.: Cheltenham Town versus Charlton Athletic, Colchester United against Southampton, and Rotherham United facing West Bromwich Albion. Soccer Saturday will continue to provide live updates, goals and key moments from each venue throughout the afternoon. The opening round does not end on Saturday. On Sunday, Mansfield Town will host Sheffield United at 4:00 p.m., and the competition will move into the early part of the following week with a Devon derby between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City slated for Monday night.
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all matches via Sky Sports+, the Sky Sports app, or the Sky Sports website. For those without a television, a dedicated first‑round blog will be published on Saturday, with additional live blogs covering each subsequent round of the tournament.
The cup will progress through the season, with the second round scheduled for the week commencing 24 August. The nine Premier League clubs that are competing in European competitions—Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace—will enter the tournament at the third‑round stage. Key dates for the competition are as follows: - Round 1: Friday 7 August – Monday 10 August - Round 2: week commencing 24 August - Round 3: weeks commencing 7 September and 14 September - Round 4: week commencing 26 October - Round 5: week commencing 14 December - Semi‑final first leg: week commencing 11 January - Semi‑final second leg: week commencing 1 February - Final: Sunday 21 March For a complete view of the first‑round draw and the full schedule, visit Sky Sports’ dedicated Carabao Cup page.
Whether you are a die‑hard supporter of a lower‑league side or a fan of the Premier League giants, the early stages of the Carabao Cup promise plenty of drama, upsets and memorable moments as clubs across the English football pyramid vie for a coveted trophy.